SUV Review: 2008 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon

Rugged and comfortable

By Clare Dear, Canwest News Service

Originally published: August 10, 2011

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I must confess that driving a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon for a week was a learning experience.

For starters, it was the first “real” Jeep I’d road tested. There have been numerous stints in other models within the line, including the Liberty, Grand Cherokee, Commander, Compass and Patriot, but these SUVs and crossovers don’t compare with this icon of off-roading.

I had a number of preconceived notions of what it would be like driving the Rubicon. For example, I expected it to deliver a rough, uncomfortable ride, feel overly tippy while cornering and be noisy and breezy on the highway.

I did not expect it to have creature comforts such as efficient air conditioning, a decent audio system and power windows. However, after popping the power door locks with the keyless remote and slipping into the comfortable low-back bucket seats, there were those amenities and more. The air conditioning quickly transformed the stifling heat inside the cabin into a comfortably chilled environment, while the stereo sound system cranked out travellin’ tunes through six Infinity speakers and a booming subwoofer in back.

The only complaint upon initial entry was the absence of power-adjustable exterior mirrors. I suppose the fact that the two doors of the Rubicon can be easily removed, as some traditionalists demand, makes powering up those big side mirrors a complicated exercise, but it sure is inconvenient. One wonders how we were able to adjust those mirrors all the years before power assistance came along, especially the one way over there on the passenger’s door.

On the road, the Rubicon continued to surprise. The 3.8-litre V6, which kicks out 202 ponies, was smooth and responsive, delivering plenty of response when the go pedal was pushed. Fuel economy, however, was less than stellar. The Wrangler Rubicon is rated at 14.1 litres per 100 kilometres in city driving and 10.8 on the highway. (Consumption rates for off-road use are uncharted.)

My tester was equipped with the six-speedmanual transmission, which gives the driver complete command of the engine’s output. The shifter isn’t a slick unit that would encourage rapid dances through the gates, but it does let you make your gear choices with confidence. In other words, it may not be the best at cranking down a drag strip, but you won’t slip off the ledge searching for the cog when you need to grab a particular gear to get yourself over a rocky outcrop.

I expected, especially with the large (LT255/75R17) BF Goodrich mud/terrain off-road tires and high centre of gravity, that the Jeep would feel unstable at speed while tire noise would be deafening. However, in an extended highway run, the Rubicon maintained a steady course while road noise was acceptable, despite the lack of sound-deadening materials typically found in other vehicles. My “comfort zone” while cruising was about 10 km/h less than usual, yet, maintaining a pace compatible with others was not a problem.

The ride, too, was surprisingly comfortable — not the stiff, bouncy run I had expected from such a short-wheelbase vehicle intended more to weather the rough stuff than sailing over smooth asphalt.

The tester was fitted with the Freedom Top, a hard cover that fits over the cabin. It features a pair of pop-out panels to open the interior to the great outdoors, but you’d best choose to go topless when there’s no threat of rain. Onboard storage of the panels is not an option, so if you decide to pop the panels and stash them in the garage for the day, be sure to check the weather forecast — or pack a raincoat.

The top plus the rollover bars in the cabin make access and exits from the fold-down rear seats a challenge. With the entire top removed, it might be easier to get in and out –and likely more fun during the ride– but I didn’t attempt to remove the roof. It’s definitely not a one-person operation.

Realistically, however, such issues matter little to the people who buy any of the trio of two-door Wrangler models– the Wrangler X, Sahara and Rubicon. (There’s also an Unlimited iteration that features a stretched wheelbase and four doors.) What’s really important to these buyers is this Jeep’s off-road prowess, and this vehicle’s capabilities to tackle rugged terrain is a benchmark for the industry. I managed to do some limited excursions off the beaten path during my time with the Rubicon and it breezed through the mildly rough stuff without breaking a sweat. However, I have also witnessed these vehicles in the hands of off-road experts, clawing and crawling through terrain one would have great difficulty traversing on foot.

Overall, the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon was surprisingly practical for use as a daily driver, while its toughness in the rough stuff was everything I expected it would be.